Branching Out: Discover 7 Special Trees

Banyan Tree – Lahaina, Maui

We all cried as wildfires swept the island of Maui in August 2023. These wind-driven fires took a toll on the island, destroying 80 percent of Lahaina and charring Lahaina’s beloved Banyan Tree. Spanning 1.94 acres — over the length of a city block— this tree rises more than 60 feet in the air. Measuring a quarter of a mile in circumference, this Banyan Tree possesses 16 trunks, making it the largest of its kind in Hawaii and mainland United States (and one of the most massive in the world). Planted as an eight-foot-tall sapling in 1873 by Kauai’s William Owen Smith, the Banyan Tree was severely burned in areas by the fires. Thankfully, the tree is returning to life and sprouting new green leaves.

On Road Scholar's 21-day adventure of a lifetime, you'll see the best of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, and Oahu, including the Banyan Tree, with your own eyes. You'll also learn about traditional culture, active volcanoes and wildlife that call this paradise home.

Coast Redwoods – Northern California

If you’ve ever stood at the base of a Coast Redwood, it’s an experience that you won’t forget. Also known as Coastal Redwood and California Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens is Earth’s tallest tree. The tallest, Hyperion, is found in California’s Redwood National Park and stands at 380 feet. If you’re looking for the world’s largest old-growth contiguous redwood forest, you’ll want to explore Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Humboldt County, California. Here, you can forest bathe among 17,000 acres of ancient redwoods, some more than 2,000 years old.

Learn more about redwoods as you hike through Humboldt Redwoods State Park with a small group expertly led by local Road Scholar naturalists. 

Cherry Blossom Trees - Washington, D.C

Blooming in hues of white and pink, cherry tree blossoms are a much-anticipated perennial favorite. A sign of rebirth and renewal each spring, these blooms often last no more than two weeks. In 1912, Japan gave 3,020 cherry blossom trees — also known as the Sakura — to the United States as a gift. Today, you can see them in Sakura Park in Manhattan and Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. View Cherry blossoms with Road Scholar in Washington, D.C.

General Sherman Tree - Sequoia National Park, California

General Sherman, the tree, not the man, is found in California’s Sequoia National Park. This Giant Sequoia stands 275 feet tall and was named after the Civil War general by a naturalist who had served under him. This massive tree is estimated to be between 2,300 and 2,700 years old. While there are taller and wider trees, General Sherman is the most voluminous single-stem tree on our planet.

General Sherman is one of many giant trees in Sequoia National Park in California’s Sierra Nevada. Learn more about this magnificent forest ecosystem on this nine-day journey through four spectacular American National Parks — Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Yosemite and Death Valley.

Lemon Trees – Croatia

Who doesn’t love lemons? From lemonade to lemon meringue pie, where would we be without lemon trees? Known as Citrus limon, these bursts of sunshine grow throughout the Mediterranean region, as well as in California, Mexico and Chile where warmer climates prevail. Favorite varieties include Eureka, Meyer, Lisbon, Pink lemonade and Ponderosa. In addition to filtering pollutants from the air, lemon trees are a symbol of longevity, prosperity and freshness.

Croatia is brimming with gardens and the sweet scent of lemon trees if you'd like to breathe in the fragrance of lemons en plein air. On a 14-day learning adventure, journey along the breathtaking Adriatic Coast, discover medieval towns and explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the Dalmatian Coast.

Lone Cypress – Monterey, California

The Monterey Cypress is a native evergreen tree endemic to the central coast of California. One in particular, the Lone Cypress, is the pinnacle of 17-Mile Drive, a scenic road hugging the coastline on the Monterey Peninsula. The iconic tree is believed to have sprouted from its rocky granite pedestal in the early 1770s. The resilience of this tree is both remarkable and undeniable. For more than 250 years, this solitary cypress has withstood ocean winds and waves, in addition to a fire in 1984.

Travel the internationally heralded 17-Mile Drive on a six-day adventure in Magical Monterey. As part of a small group, you’ll discover why Monterey Bay is called the most beautiful meeting of land and water on the face of the Earth.

El Árbol del Tule - Montezuma Cypress, Oaxaca, Mexico

The Montezuma Cypress is known as Mexico’s national tree. Its family tree includes close connections to the bald cypress of the southeastern United States and the giant sequoias of northern California. Sadly, more than 400 old-growth trees were cut to build a temporary causeway during the Mexican-American War.

Today, El Árbol del Tule, a 2,000 year old Montezuma cypress located in Oaxaca City, is the widest tree in the world with a diameter of almost 46 feet. It takes 30 people, reaching with outstretched arms, to hug this tree! Its branches are estimated to extend the length of two tennis courts. While not in the best of health due to water shortages and nearby traffic, the legendary tree stands tall in the heart of Oaxaca. Experience El Árbol del Tule’s massive beauty on an incredible Road Scholar learning adventure through Oaxaca and Puebla.

While this is just a tiny collection of noteworthy trees, many more are waiting to inspire you. We could not write this blog without also mentioning the Avenue of the Baobabs in Madagascar, the Cedars of God in Lebanon, the 400-year-old Tree of Life in Bahrain, Major Oak in Sherwood Forest, England (Robin Hood’s shelter according to folklore) and the Dark Hedges, an avenue of Beech Trees in County Antrim, Northern Ireland — a location made famous in HBO’s Game of Thrones.